Wiston Estate Cuvée 2016
The Wiston Estate Cuvée 2016 is a vintage English sparkling wine that blends Pinot Noir (55%), Chardonnay (33%) and Pinot Meunier (12%) grapes. The six hectare Findon Park Vineyard was Wiston Estate's first planting in 2006 with a variety of different Champagne and Burgundy clones, situated in a secluded spot in the South Downs. Here, the valley benefits from excellent airflow which helps stave off disease and, as its only 4km north of the South Coast of England, it is rarely endangered with spring frosts. At the winery, each of the varieties were pressed in a traditional Coquard basket press and fermented separately in old barrels sourced from Burgundy and Bordeaux. The wines are then rested on lees until the following summer, then blended and bottled for a cool, long second fermentation. The wine was then aged for 5 years on lees, before disgorging and final ageing on cork. The 2016 Cuvée has impressive depth and complexity, with that signature precision and elegance in spades. It has aromas of baked apple tart, with notes of baked pears too and a creamy pastry base. A touched of spiced honey is balanced by brisk acidity and a touch of salinity making the finish long and balanced.
